Controlling mechanism for windmills.



J. BRADFORD.

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR WINDMILLS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7.1917.

UUNTROLLING MECHANISM FOR WINJDMILLS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June is, rare.

Application filed August 7, 1917. Serial No. 184,933.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosnPH W. BRAD- ronn, a citizen of the United States, residing at King, in the county of Coryell and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controlling Mechanism for Windmills, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object the provision of simple inexpensive and efficient means whereby the operation of a windmill pump may be automatically controlled so that a constant supply of water will be maintained in the storage tank.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing which shows in sectional elevation my improved controlling mechanism with so much of a windmill pump as is deemed necessary for an understanding of the invention.

The windmill tower 1 may be of any usual' or preferred construction and is illustrated in a conventional manner, the upper portion of the tower, together with the windwheel and the gear shifting lever, being omitted. 2 designates the pump operated by the windwheel and provided with a discharge spout having its outlet extremity arranged over a storage tank 4:. The storage tank may, of course, be of any desired capacity and may be of any desired construction. Secured-upon the tank 4: at the upper end thereof is a frame 5 upon which is slidably mounted a controlling cylinder or receptacle 6. This receptacle 6 is provided with lateral guides 7 slidably engaging the side portions of the frame 5 so that the said receptacle may move readily vertically upon the frame. A cable 8 is secured to the upper end of the said receptacle and leads therefrom through the windmill tower 1 to the gear shifting lever at the top of the tower so that the movement of the cable will cause said lever to be actuated and the gear thrown in or out so that the operation of the pump may be started or stopped as will be readily understood. The gear shifting mechanism forms no part of my present invention and may be of any well-known form, for which reason I have deemed the illustration thereof to be unnecessary. The upper end of the container or receptacle 6 is connected with the upper end of the storage tank 4: by a hose or other flexible connection 9 whereby the Water may flow between the tank and the receptacle and the lower end of the receptacle is connected with the tank by a similar conduit 10 for the same purpose. Below the lower end of the conduit 10 within the tank is a bracket 11 upon which is fulcrumed a lever 12 carrying a float 13 at one end and having its opposite end provided with or connected to a cut-0E valve whereby the flow through the conduit 10 may be regulated.

The construction and arrangement of the several parts of my mechanism being thus made known, it is thought the operation and advantages of the same will be readily understood. When the windmill is set up, the receptacle 6 is disposed at the upper end of the tank 4: and in this position the weight of the gear shifting lever will overbalance the receptacle or container 6 and said lever will assume a position in which the pump will be held in gear with the windwheel and will, consequently, be operated. As the pump is operated, the water will be discharged into the tank 4 and will rise therein, as will be readily understood. When the water reaches the level of the float 13 it will lift the said float so that the cut-off valve will be closed and, consequently, flow through the conduit 10 will be prevented. The water, however, will continue to rise in the tank 4 and when it reaches the level of the conduit 9 will flow through said conduit into the receptacle 6, the continued flow of the water filling the said receptacle and causing it to overbalance the shifting lever and, consequently, throw the pump out of gear. The operation of the pump will then, of course, cease and the inflow of water will stop. As the water is used from the tank 4 it will gradually drop below the level of the float 13 and the outlet end of the conduit 10 whereupon the float will descend and the cut-off valve will be opened so that the water within the receptacle or container 6 will flow through said conduit into the tank. As the water is lowered with in the receptacle 6 the weight, of course, will be diminished and the gear shifting lever will be free to swing and will automatically again throw the pump into gear. The pumping operation will then be resumed and a constant supply of water will, therefore. be maintained in the storage tank.

My improved mechanism is obviously simple in the construction and arrangement of the several parts and may be pro duced installed et a loW cost. When in use it Will be found highly efficient for the purpose for which it is designed. Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

The combinati0n With a tank, and a purnp discharging into the tank, of a container mounted for free vertical ..movementat the side of the tank, means for connecting the container with a gear-shifting mechanism whereby to control the operation of the pump, a conduit connecting the upper end of the container with the upper end of the tank, a conduit connecting the lower end of the container with the tank at a point below the upper end thereof, a cut-off valve for the lower conduit, and a float-controlled lever within the tank operating said valve.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. JOSEPH W. BRADFORD. [1,. s.]

Eo ple l 6 this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0." 

